3. One month of birth-control pills to regulate cycle and synchronize follicles for stimulation.

4. Blood test to make sure hormone levels haven't changed.

5. Ten- to 14-day regimen of injections to activate your follicles to produce eggs and to keep your body from prematurely letting go of them. Insurance often doesn't cover this. (Mine didn't, so I was on the hook for an extra $3000.)

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6. Blood tests to check whether medication levels need to be adjusted, and frequent ultrasounds to measure how big the follicles are growing.

7. Thirty-six hours before the retrieval, shot of hCG hormone forces follicles to mature and triggers release of the eggs.

8. Retrieval day! 10 minutes of IV sedation. Ultrasonic probe needle pierces the vaginal wall and goes through each ovary to suck out the eggs.

9. Eggs are immersed in a solution that dehydrates and refills them to prevent ice crystals. Then they are slowly frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen.